This is the Voice of New Jersey Audubon for Thursday, Aug. 29, at 10 PM, with reports of SANDWICH TERN, BROWN PELICAN, PURPLE GALLINULE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, MARBLED GODWIT, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, seasonal reports, and local reports of interest.
A SANDWICH TERN appeared briefly in the South Cape May Meadows on Aug. 26 and Aug. 29. Up to 8 SANDWICH TERNS had been on Champagne Island in Hereford Inlet the week before. BROWN PELICANS were reported this week at Holgate, Barnegat Inlet, Stone Harbor Point, and Higbee Beach.
An immature PURPLE GALLINULE was seen briefly from the Gull Pond observation tower at Brigantine NWR on Aug. 29. Also at Brig this week were 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on Aug. 27, a MARBLED GODWIT Aug. 26, and 40 CASPIAN TERNS Aug. 28. A LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULL was on the beach at Higbee [Cape May] Aug. 27 in the morning, but not later in the day.
At Swartswood Lake in Sussex County a STILT SANDPIPER was at the Duck Pond on Aug. 25; the pond is drained. The SEDGE WREN continues at Kelly Lane in the Wallkill area; reach it from Rt. 23 to 565 to Wallkill Rd. to Kelly Lane. At Gordon Rd. in New Sharon off Rt. 539 south of Assunpink, 3 GOLDEN PLOVERS were seen on Aug. 25. Twelve UPLAND SANDPIPERS were on the Columbus Sod Farm, now called the Clarksville Sod Farm, on Rt. 206 near Columbus, on Aug. 25.
A CASPIAN TERN was at Mercer County Park off Quakerbridge Rd. on Aug. 25. Thirteen LITTLE BLUE HERONS were at Lake Assunpink, also Aug. 25. Ten species of warblers were at Allaire State Park on Aug. 24; 18 species of warblers were at Rifle Camp Park in West Patterson on Aug. 25. At Spruce Run Reservoir at the mouth of the Mulhockaway Creek the mudflats are present; the water is low; 8 species of shorebirds were present there this week.
The Voice of NJ Audubon [(908) 766-2661] is a regular weekly report on birding in New Jersey. The tape is changed regularly on Wednesdays, more often when necessary. [Compiled by R. Kane, NJ Audubon; transcribed for National Birding Hotline Cooperative by L. Larson, llarson@ pucc.princeton.edu.] To report birds to the tape, call (908) 766-5787, or fax (908) 766-7775. For updates between tapes call the NJ Audubon Bird Mailbox, (201) 983-9152. Good birding, and thank you for calling.